5 of the Easiest Edible Flowers to Grow in Spring

A salad bowl with edible flowers as decoration on a wooden table

(Image credit: Future)

Jump to category:

1. Nasturtiums
2. Calendula
3. Violas
4. Zucchini
5. Borage

Edible flowers have soared in popularity in recent years. They are no longer confined to fine dining, as home gardeners are enjoying the trend of adding them to salads, using them in cocktails, or garnishing with edible flowers. Here, I highlight some of the easiest edible flowers to grow from seed, helping you get in on the trend.

My experience with edible flowers goes back many years. I have grown edible flowers for restaurants in several different gardens throughout my career. I grew and carefully picked blooms for a Michelin-star restaurant, eateries at the renowned Soho Farmhouse, and in historic public gardens.

There is a great variety of plants you can grow for blooms and use in a variety of ways, from topping cakes to stuffing and frying. And you can be enjoying homegrown edible flowers in just a few months. I have picked some of my easiest edible flowers to grow from seed, many of which you can sow in late winter and start picking in spring or early summer. I even include some professional sowing tips to get you started.

1. Nasturtiums

A tray containing freshly-picked red and orange nasturtium flowers — *I carefully picked trays of nasturtium flowers many days a week for chefs at a Michelin-starred restaurant*

Nasturtiums are the most popular edible flowers I have ever grown for restaurants, and I have spent many an hour selecting and carefully picking perfect-looking nasturtium flowers to adorn plates.

The flowers taste sweet and floral, with a slightly peppery note, but are not as spicy as the leaves (which are also edible). You can add the flowers whole to salads or use any of the range of bright nasturtium varieties to add a bold splash of color as a garnish.

As well as being wholly edible plants, another plus point for nasturtiums is that they rank among the easiest flowers to grow from seed. You can plant nasturtium seeds indoors in late winter or early spring for the earliest blooms, and sow throughout spring and summer.

I have always found it is better to sow seeds indoors, as slugs and snails love to nibble the seedlings as they emerge in late spring and summer. The seeds germinate reliably in a greenhouse or on a warm windowsill and develop quickly once planted outside.

Alaska Mix is one variety I had success with, and this heirloom variety produces a range of flower colors. You can get packets of Alaska Mix nasturtium seeds at Burpee.

2. Calendula

calendula Indian Prince flowering in summer — *Calendula petals can also be made into a tea or used as a substitute for saffron*

Calendula flowers have a slightly peppery flavor and can add color and an extra layer to salads, soups, salsas, and quiches. The petals can also adorn cakes as decorations or be added to ice cubes to give color in cocktails.

One key thing to remember with calendula is that you ideally want to remove the petals individually to use, as the base of the flower head is bitter.

If you want to grow any of the wide range of calendula varieties out there to enjoy the bright blooms in sweet or savory dishes, you can start sowing seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost.

The seeds germinate reliably quickly, and you can transplant seedlings outdoors after the last frost. Alternatively, you can sow seeds outdoors in spring where they are to flower.

Calendulas often start blooming only a few weeks after planting young seedlings outdoors. Regular deadheading throughout the season will encourage the plant to keep flowering for a longer blooming period.

For a stunning variety, try this Pacific Beauty Blend of calendula seeds at Botanical Interests. The combination of gold and orange flowers will look great, attract pollinators, and add glorious color as decorations.

3. Violas

purple and white viola in a spring container — *Edible flowers should be gently washed before consuming*

Violas are another edible flower I have vivid memories of, tirelessly examining the blooms to pick the perfect ones to send to the chefs. These fast-growing flowers thrive in the cooler weather and can bring early and late color to flower beds or containers.

Viola flowers can be added to salads or used as a garnish. They have a sweet flavor and crisp texture. It is also common for the blooms to be candied and used as cake decorations, or frozen in ice cubes to add to cocktails.

You can start growing violas in late winter/early spring or late summer/early fall. To propagate violas from seed earlier in the year, sow them 6-8 weeks before your last frost into trays or modules filled with a soil for starting seeds.

They are very fine, so sow them onto the surface and cover with a fine layer of soil or vermiculite. Keep them warm (60-70°F) and plant them outdoors after the last frost.

For a compact, durable viola to grow in beds, pots, or hanging baskets, the Sorbet Series makes a great choice. You can get Sorbet Series viola seeds at True Leaf Market. This series is commonly used as edible flowers by chefs.

4. Zucchini

Zucchini flower on the plant — *Check all flowers for any pests or blemishes before picking them to eat*

Most gardeners only grow zucchini for the fruit, but you can also harvest zucchini flowers to stuff or fry, or add to soups or salads. They are a delicacy, with a delicate, mild flavor and a soft texture.

You can start growing zucchini, sometimes known as summer squash, by sowing seeds indoors around a month before your last frost date. They are tender plants, so don’t rush things, as when planted outside, they do grow quickly and prolifically. The plants are reliable and high-yielding, so you should not be short of edible flowers to pick.

The first flowers should start to open around 50 days after sowing zucchini seeds. Male flowers appear first and are more plentiful than female flowers. The male flowers are attached to the plant by a thin, hairy stem and don’t develop fruit, so they are best for picking.

Pick the blossoms early in the morning by snipping them from the plant with pruning shears, garden snips, or a sharp harvesting knife, with a half-inch of stem attached. Handle them carefully, keep them out of direct sunlight to avoid wilting, and use them within 24 hours.

Black Beauty is a classic, popular zucchini variety because it is a prolific plant that grows lots of fruits with deep green skin. You can get packets of Black Beauty zucchini seeds at Amazon to start sowing in spring.

5. Borage

A blue star-shaped flower of borage sitting atop a red stem — *Borage flowers have also historically been used for medicinal purposes*

Borage is a herb that produces delicate star-shaped blue flowers from early summer through fall.

These blooms are edible and have a mild cucumber flavor and a succulent texture that works well as a garnish for both sweet and savory dishes. Borage flowers also make an excellent addition to summer drinks, or the blooms can be added to salads.

You can start growing borage in spring after the last frost for your location. The herb doesn’t like being transplanted, so you enjoy more success by sowing it directly into a sunny spot in the yard. You can sow in rows or disperse it over an area, just make sure to lightly cover the seeds and keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged.

As well as being fabulous for edible flowers, borage is also a great plant for pollinators, especially bees that love the nectar-rich blooms.

You can get packets of borage seeds at Burpee to sow outdoors in spring.

On top of sowing some of the easiest edible flowers to grow, you can also plant many other flower seeds in late winter and early spring to fill your garden with glorious blooms.

For example, this guide to flowers to sow in February features seven plants you can start indoors in late winter for earlier blooms come spring and summer. It includes sweet peas, alyssum, asters, cornflower, and more.

Shop Edible Flower Seeds

Edible Flower Seed Collection

This collection features 10 seed packets to grow a wide range of edible flowers. Each packet has detailed growing instructions.

Edible Wildflower Seed Collection

This collection features eight seed packets to grow lots of edible wildflowers in your yard.

Zucchini Seed Collection

This collection has seed packets to grow five different varieties of zucchini: Black Beauty, Grey, Round, Golden, and Cocozelle.

TOPICS

Drew has worked as a writer since 2008 and was also a professional gardener for many years. As a trained horticulturist, he worked in prestigious historic gardens, including Hanbury Hall and the world-famous Hidcote Manor Garden. He also spent time as a specialist kitchen gardener at Soho Farmhouse and Netherby Hall, where he grew vegetables, fruit, herbs, and cut flowers for restaurants. Drew has written for numerous print and online publications and is an allotment holder and garden blogger. He is shortlisted for the Digital Gardening Writer of the Year at the 2025 Garden Media Guild Awards.